Pakistan's former President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, who seized power in 1999 coup, dies in exile

Pakistan's former President Gen. Pervez Musharraf died Sunday in self-imposed exile in Dubai after a prolonged illness at the age of 79, according to a statement from the Pakistani military. 

"May Allah bless the departed soul and give strength to the bereaved family," senior military officials said in a statement obtained by CNN, expressing their "heartfelt condolences" on the "sad demise of General Pervez Musharraf."

Musharraf ousted former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from power in a 1999 military coup. While still remaining head of the army, he appointed himself as president in 2001, where he served until 2008.

Musharraf had been living in the United Arab Emirates since 2016 after Pakistan’s Supreme Court lifted a travel ban on him. This allowed him to leave Pakistan to seek medical treatment in Dubai, the largest city in the UAE.